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Something that I think gets overlooked as a reason why people choose automatic is that they're much nicer to drive in heavy stop-and-go traffic. Accelerate to 5

by bpyne 17y ago

Something that I think gets overlooked as a reason why people choose automatic is that they're much nicer to drive in heavy stop-and-go traffic. Accelerate to 5 MPH for a few seconds, then stop. Repeat ad nauseum for 1.5 hours. Do it again for another 1.5 hours going home. Having to constantly go in and out of gear stinks in this scenario. With the ridiculous commuting times people have in the US, it's no wonder many drivers don't want manual. On top of it, many people do not drive 2.5 hours daily due to sheer distance; it's because of traffic causing the pattern I listed above. (Of course, the heavy traffic and long commuting time begs the question of why we don't invest more into public transportation. But, that's another clouded issue.) I've driven manual for 22 years. Even a half an hour in heavy traffic makes me wish for automatic.

lutorm 17y ago
This is so true. I firmly believe that the reason automatics are so popular in the US is because of the traffic situation. Edit: And driving a manual in SF certainly tests your clutch skills... Of course, it doesn't get any easier driving a manual in stop-and-go traffic when everyone driving automatics are so much more prone to accelerate violently when traffic starts moving and then brake abruptly when it stops. And then they get annoyed when people with manuals are content to idle along in second which keeps the same average speed but periodically opens up large holes in front.
- RyanMcGreal 17y ago
  > they get annoyed when people with manuals are content to idle along in second which keeps the same average speed but periodically opens up large holes in front. I do this (I have a game I play in highway traffic called Avoid Using the Brake), but I don't find that other motorists get annoyed. In fact I rarely even find that people cut into the big gaps - and if they do, it's usually just passing through en route to another lane.
pixelbath 17y ago
+1 to that. I've driven manual for 15 years, but conceded to the wife asking (nay, demanded!) for an automatic on the last automobile purchase. It frees up one hand majority of the time and she doesn't have to think about it through turns. For me, the benefits of an automatic are trivial compared to the joy of driving a manual transmission, with one great exception: stop-and-go traffic. The process of driving a manual usually boils down to engaging the clutch partially, briefly, so that not too much fuel is wasted for each acceleration. My shins get tired after at least 20 minutes of this. You would think doing this routine every day would make it more tolerable. Surprisingly, it does not. Now that I do not have to freeway commute to work, considering a manual for the next purchase. As already stated, they are more fun to drive. On topic, I'd say this is why I do not prefer Apple's walled garden of simplicity. I don't want these choices made for me, necessarily. I like the fact that I can install any software I wish, at any time. As has been said uncountable times, the iPad is directed at certain types of users. I am not one of those types, and I doubt I would ever be. If I had disposable income (where I could afford to throw away $500 on an entertainment device), I'd buy one. My wife would love it, and I'd use it for idle surfing now and again. I might even make some interesting apps for Safari. Wouldn't want to learn Objective-C though, because what good is writing a program if your own computer won't even allow you to run it?

by bpyne 17y ago

lutorm 17y ago

This is so true. I firmly believe that the reason automatics are so popular in the US is because of the traffic situation. Edit: And driving a manual in SF certainly tests your clutch skills... Of course, it doesn't get any easier driving a manual in stop-and-go traffic when everyone driving automatics are so much more prone to accelerate violently when traffic starts moving and then brake abruptly when it stops. And then they get annoyed when people with manuals are content to idle along in second which keeps the same average speed but periodically opens up large holes in front.

RyanMcGreal 17y ago
> they get annoyed when people with manuals are content to idle along in second which keeps the same average speed but periodically opens up large holes in front. I do this (I have a game I play in highway traffic called Avoid Using the Brake), but I don't find that other motorists get annoyed. In fact I rarely even find that people cut into the big gaps - and if they do, it's usually just passing through en route to another lane.

pixelbath 17y ago

+1 to that. I've driven manual for 15 years, but conceded to the wife asking (nay, demanded!) for an automatic on the last automobile purchase. It frees up one hand majority of the time and she doesn't have to think about it through turns. For me, the benefits of an automatic are trivial compared to the joy of driving a manual transmission, with one great exception: stop-and-go traffic. The process of driving a manual usually boils down to engaging the clutch partially, briefly, so that not too much fuel is wasted for each acceleration. My shins get tired after at least 20 minutes of this. You would think doing this routine every day would make it more tolerable. Surprisingly, it does not. Now that I do not have to freeway commute to work, considering a manual for the next purchase. As already stated, they are more fun to drive. On topic, I'd say this is why I do not prefer Apple's walled garden of simplicity. I don't want these choices made for me, necessarily. I like the fact that I can install any software I wish, at any time. As has been said uncountable times, the iPad is directed at certain types of users. I am not one of those types, and I doubt I would ever be. If I had disposable income (where I could afford to throw away $500 on an entertainment device), I'd buy one. My wife would love it, and I'd use it for idle surfing now and again. I might even make some interesting apps for Safari. Wouldn't want to learn Objective-C though, because what good is writing a program if your own computer won't even allow you to run it?